In the news: Bad behavior or an attempt to knock out the competition?

A cardiologist is suing the Jewish Hospital in Louisville, KY for allegedly terminating his medical staff privileges because he is a part-owner of a competing hospital due to open next month, reports the Courier-Journal. The hospital, however, denies these allegations, claiming that the reason for terminating Dr. Christodulos Stavens’ privileges is a result of his long history of disruptive behavior.

Nurses and others at Jewish Hospital have reported that Stavens repeatedly treated them and patients with disrespect. In one case, he supposedly told a patient she was going to die while running his finger across his neck. 

The fact that the four other physicians involved with the development of the competing hospital still hold privileges at Jewish Hospital indicates that Stavens’ behavior may have been out of line, but he claims that he has received no complaints from the other hospitals where he holds privileges.

Stavens’ attorney argues that the hospital has been building a case to get rid of him, as evidenced by the 10-page summary it provided of his behavior dating back to 1991. The hospital’s attorney says that the hospital is alert for disruptive behavior, especially since The Joint Commission issued a sentinel event alert regarding poor behavior last year.